I've noticed Ms. Ruger becoming braver as a writer in this series, delving into topics that she hasn't before but are authentic to the period. And her descriptiveness seems to have risen even another notch above her usual illustrative prose.
The first chapters of the story are captivating and exciting. Grace's backstory sets her up well for what ensues over the course of the book. She endures trials and tests of her mettle, discarding impractical proprieties along the way. But Grace is an enigma—she's kind yet murderous, she grieves yet has a bright smile, she's delicate yet strong, clever but innocent, and she doesn't acquiesce to traditional expectations for the female sex. She runs a large and prosperous keep that she can never call her own
Her counterpart Ruairi spends his time with his men along the river Iverson picking off marauders and evildoers one by one. He's had enough of watching his good men die in this evil war and chooses to fight the fight in his own way. Come to find out that Grace's mission should have been his own years ago and his guilt spurs him to action, lest Grace die seeking her revenge.
This is a story filled with uniqueness, suspense and romance. It ends in a satisfying way but there's still more to come, and that's a treat we can all look forward to in a future book.